Stapling machine



`April 14, 1942. K M *VOGEL 2,279,584

sTArLING MACHINE Filed oct. 4, 1938 4 sheets-'sheet 1 ATTORN EY M. VOGEL pl 14, 1942. f

STAPLING MACHINE Filed Oct. 4, 1938 n 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTRv BY Ax VDGEL ATTORNEY April`14, 1942. M, VOGEL 2,279,584

STAPLING MACHINE Filed Oct. 4, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEY April1'4,1942. M VOGEL 2,279,584

STAPLING MACHINEl l Filed Oct. 4, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 14, 1942 STABLING MACHINE Max Vogel, Bridgeport, Conn., assignor to Neva- ),Clog Products; Ine.,

s, Bridgeport, Conn., a cor-v poration er Connecticut Applicatien Qctoher 4, 1938, Serial No. 233,180

1K5 Claims.

The present invention relates to an improvement in stapling machines, and has for Van object to provide a staple machine of .simple and inexpensive construction ,which will enable the staple strip to be loaded upon the staple rail with greater facility than has been possible in stapling machines heretofore in use. In these .previous machines various methods have' been employed for. loading the staple strip, principal of which have been the methods of loading from the rear by rst removing the staple strip pusher, and loading from the front by first removing or displacing a closure or gate at the front to expose the staple strip passage. method consisted in loading from the .top of the y tuting a driving connection between theclosure member andthe staple driving plunger.

It is further proposed'to provide a resilient facing member formed of soft material, such as sponge rubber, and' which is removably attached to the closure. member by resilient buttons or Another previous staple rail by first removing or raising the housing to expose the top of the staple rail,l the staple rail in this case being provided with fixed side Walls outwardly spaced from-'thesides of the staple rail. This construction enables the strip to be dropped into place by iirst inserting the lside leg portions of the strip into the narrow channels between the sides oi the rail and the iixed side walls. 1t is particularly proposed in the Apresent invention to provide a 4staple yrail structure, normally enclosed by a housing member, which housing member upenlbeing opened exposes the rail entirely at its top, Yfront and sides, so that the stripniay be readily placed thereon or removed with the iingers conveniently gripping the strip at the sides. It is further proposed to provide a housing having means which in the closed position` forms a retainer or upper limit means for the upper side of the staple strip, and aise having front Wall means which in the closed position provides aY -ierward abutment -for the staplestr'ip, and which also cooperates with the forwardfend of the staple rail to provide a staple driving lpassage. Another object is tp provide" such front wall which with side wallsvbent rearwardly theref from provide a' guide for the steple driving plunger, and to this end it is pro os'edu toV p rovide `mill ed channels upon the inner surfaee of the vmetal forming the housing,V which 'milled channels provide bending llines ior the side walls and `channel guides for the side edges of the plunger. y

a further object; isto provide a structure invl which the housing is enclosed at its' upper side by means of a hinged closure member which also provides the depr'e'ssible head ,ffii atletirg the plunger. It is further proposed to provide spring inearis normally retaining said closurel in its raised position, such spring means also. constithe'like formed upon the facing member and intnerlockingly inserted in holes in the closure member, to the end that the closure member is provided with a soft surface for comfortable engagement by the hand as it .compresses the closure member to drive the staple. Furthermore the stapling machine is given an attractive ap'- pearance through the fact that the facing may be of a contrasting color and may be convenient'- ly moulded into streamlined shapes, and' may also be readily removed and yreplaced when it becomes worn or soiled.

Another object is to provide pusher means .for the staple strip which pusher means .is normally drawn forwardly under spring action, and which cooperates with the housing so that upon open-l ing the housing for'the purpose of loading the machine with a staple strip the pusher'willjbe locked against forward movement, thus" pre-'- venting any possibility of staples remaining'upon the rail being shot forwardly therefrom.

It is proposed, in one embodiment'o'f the invention to provide pusher means which in the normal operating position isy interlocked with the housing to retain the latter closed, such 'pusher means adapted upon being retracted to its locked positionY to -release the housing to allow it to be raised. In lthis embodiment it is also proposed to provide springV means for automat'- ically raising the housing when the housing is 'released by the pusher means, and furtherT to provide means whereby the pusher means is automatically released when the housing is closed. In another embodiment it is proposed te provide pusher means which will be automatically locked in any position where it happens 'toI be when the housing is raised. It is further proposed to provide spring means foryieldably' rtaining the housing in either closed nor opened position.

Another object is to provide a stapling vmachine in which during driving of a staplefthe.

the staple driving mechanism is actuated the pusher is retained sure on the staple strip'.`

'against exerting. forwarders# posed to provide A further object of the invention is to provide a stapling machine, which in addition to its normal use in relation to an anvil base clinching the staple legs, may be swung into an open position for use as a tacker, and it is further promeans for yieldably retaining the machine in such open tacker position, whereby it may be more conveniently handled, utilizing the anvil base member as a handle.

With the above and other objects in View, embodiments of the inventionl are shown in theA accompanying drawings, and these embodiments will be hereinafter more fully described with reference thereto, and the invention will be finally pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a stapling machine according to one exemplary embodiment vof -the invention.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view, partially broken away. v

Fig. 3 is a rear end elevation.

Fig. 4 is a front end elevation. Fig. 5 is a transverse'vertical sectional view, taken along the line 5 5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal vertical sectional View, snowing the housing raised to expose the staple rail for the loading of a staple strip thereon.

Fig. 7 is a horizontal sectional bottom plan View, taken along the line T-'I of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a side elevation, partially broken away, showing the anvilv base member swung into its position to permit use of the stapling machine as a tacker. Fig. 9 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of a modied form of the invention, the dot-andclash lines showing the anvil base member swung to its position to permit use of the stapling Inachine as a tacker.

' Fig. 10 is a horizontal sectional bottom view, taken along the line IU-I of Fig. 9.

f Fig. 11 is arear end elevation.

.Fig. 12 is a vertical sectional View taken along the line I2I2 of Fig. 9.

Fig. 13 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line l3-I3 of Fig, 9.

Fig. 14 is a sidev elevation, partially broken away,-showing the housing member raised to expose the staple rail.

f Fig. 15 is a horizontal sectional top plan view, taken along the line lli-I of Fig. 14.

Fig, '16 is a fragmentary side elevation of a modified form of rail and staple strip pusher showing the normal operative position of the pusher with the housing member closed.

Fig. 17 is a similar view showing the housing member open and the pusher member in its automatically moved locked position.

' and rearwardly from an Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

ff Referring particularly to Figsfl to 8 of the drawings, the stapling machine according to the exemplary illustrated embodiment of the invenf tion shown therein comprises a sheet metal base member I0 having outwardly beveled side walls, provided near its forward edge with an upwardly embossed anvil portion I I, having an anvil recess I 2 pressed therein, for the purpose of clinching the staple legs as the staples are driven in the usual manner. Near the rearward edge there is secured the bracket for pivotally mounting the staple rail, housing, closure head, and associated parts, this bracket-being of U-shape and consisting of the vertically disposed parallel sides aligned apertures I8-I8 to the housing member in closed presently more fully appear.

I3-I3 and a transverse connecting portion I4, the sides being inserted upwardly through slots I5-I5 provided in the base IO and the portion I4 engaging the under surface of the base I0 where it is secured by spot-welding, or it may be riveted, or otherwise suitably secured.

The staple rail I6 is in the form of an inverted U-cross-sectional 'channel member, the rearward end portions of the side walls being extended to form mounting ears I1-I1 provided with receive the pivot pin I9 supported between the sides I3-I3 of the mounting bracket. The outer surfaces of the ears I'I are slightly inwardly offset with respect to the outer surfaces of the main portion of the rail, by means of shoulders 20, for the purpose of providing a clearance space between these ears and the sides I3 of the bracket for the pivotally mounted ends of the housing member and domehead member, as will presently more ,fully appear. The upper surface'of the rail adjacent the shoulders 20 is inclined downwardlyand rearwardly, as at 2l to provide a camming surface for positioning the staple strip'pusher in its locking relation, as will presently more fully appear, and the lower edges of the side wallsiof the'rail are provided adjacent the shoulders 20 with inclined portions 22 extending downwardly abutment wall 23 with which the staple strip pusher is adapted to in terlock in its retracted position, as will also presently more fully appear. n

The staple strip pusher 24 is of inverted U- shape cross-section, and is vadaptedto. slidably engage upon the staple rail in parallel relation forwardly of the inclined edge portions 22, beingprovided at the lower edges I*of its side walls with inwardly and upwardly bent clip lugs 25 which extend beneath and within the side walls of the rail. Two of these lugs are provided at each side, these being in spaced relation` and there being finger grip portions 26-26 betweenthem at each side, and which are adapted tocoopjerate with the housing member to retain it in closed position, as will Vhereinafter more fully appear, being provided for this purpose with locking anges 26a bent upwardly, inwardly and downwardly. The rforward lugs 25 are spaced rearwardly from the forward edge of thepusher so that the forwardly projected position of the pusher is limited by abutment vwith a lug 2I bent inwardly from one sidewall of the rail, the forward edge of the pusher being atvthe same time in alignment with the forward edge of the rail. The pusher is drawn forwardly by means of an elongated coil spring 28 whichl extends about a post 29 secured to the under side of the staple railnear its forward end, one end of this springbeing connected to a lug 30 extended from one of the clip `lugs 25 and the other end being connected to a post` 3| secured to one of the side walls of the rail near its rearward end.

A leaf spring 32 is secured by a rivet 33 to the uppersurface ofthe rail rearwardly of the shoulders 20 and projects forwardly over the parallel relation to the rail to push the staple strip forwardly, and in this relation it also locks position, as vwill 1 When manually drawn to retracted position, for the purpose of reloading, the rearward edge of the pusher enters beneath the spring 32 and as thev forward clip lugs 25 move rearwardly of the 'abutment walls 23 the spring tilts the pusher against the camming surface 2| bringing the forward edges of the forward clip lugs 25 into locking relation with the yabutment wall 23, as shown in Fig. 6, the spring 28' drawing the pusher forwardly and thus retaining it in this retracted position, and from which it is adapted to be released automatically upon closing of the housing member, after the staple strip is placed upon the rail as will be more fully pointed out.

The housing member comprises a vertically disposed front wall 34 and side walls 35-35 bent rearwardly therefrom in parallel spaced relation to each other, provided at their rearward ends with apertured bearing portions 345-36, pivotally mounted upon the pivot pin I9 between the side walls |--I5 of the bracket member. At the inner surface of the housing at the point Where the side walls are bent rearwardly from the front wall there are provided vertically disposed milled slots .3l-31, which constitute bending lines for the side walls andv also channel guideways for the vertical edges of the staple driving plunger 38.

In each of the side walls 35 there is provided a longitudinally extending outwardly embossed channel rib 39 providing longitudinal concave recesses upon the inner surfaces of the side walls, and within which the curled edges ld- 49 of the transversely disposed longitudinally extending staple strip retaining member 4i are seciued` by welding. The ribs 39 and the retaining member 4I give to the housing member an extremely rigid structure, enabling it to be constructed of relatively thin metal without sacrifice of strength.

In the closed position of the housing member, as shown in Figs. 1 to 5, the side walls 35 are outwardly spaced from the side walls of the rail, the retaining member 4l is upwardly spaced from the upper surface of the rail and the front wall 34 is forwardly spaced from the forward end of the rail, thus providing a channel for the staple strip and pusher and a staple driving passage through which the individual staples are driven upon actuation of the staple driving plunger. At the lower edges of the side walls 35-35, which edges are parallel to the rail in the closed position, there are provided outwardly bent flanges l2- 42, the rearward ends of which terminate just slightly rearwardly of the abutment wall 23 and which flanges are adapted to be interlockingly engaged by the finger grip portions of the pusher in the closed operative position as shown in Fig. 1, with the inwardly and downwardly bent anges 26a of the finger grip portions 25' locking the housing member against opening movement within a predetermined range of movement or" the pusher member determined bythe length of the flanges 42-42. pusher beyond said predetermined range as Upon retraction of the'A A cross-.pin 41 extends between and iss'ecured' to the side walls 35-35 of the housing' member and' has the curled portion 48 'of the hair-pin springv 49 engaged thereon, the' forwardly extending legs of thisspring, which are connected at their forward ends by the bend between the legs,y extending through a slot 5l)V in the front wall 44 of the closure head member, and through a slot 52 in thefront4 wall 34 of theV housing member, thisY slot 52 adapted to limit `the raisedv andi depressed positions. ofr the, plunger and vclosure head by engagementof the spring. with the respectivey upper and lower ends of theA slot. Thel rearwardly extending legs of. the spring 49 engage'the under-surface of the top1wa-llI 43 of thel closure head member to' tension the spring.'

The pusher tripping spring 32 is provided with an extension spring .portion 53 which bears' against the under surface of the closure head member and is adapted to automatically raise` the housing and closure-head members, when they are released by retraction of the pusher, to' expose the staple rail for the loading of a staple strip thereon.

The top wall 43- of the'A closure member is curved at its rearward vend to enclose the rearl ward end of the rail, being preferably curved orr a radius of the pivot pin I9, vand in the open: position of the housing and closure' head member the edge 54 of this curled portion is'adapted to abut a transversely bent lug 55iprovided upon the rail in the path of rotary movement of the' edge 54, thus limiting the o'pen position. In Fig;

6 the housing and closure'hea'd members arein"v f partially open position. IA spring 56 secured to' the base l0 by a rivet 5'Isn'ormallyengag'es over the upperl surface of the lug 5ty tov prevent upward swinging movement of thev rail asl the housing and closure members are swung toV open position. The arrangement of this springis suchv that downward swingingk movement of the. rail is`r` permitted during the stapling operation. A'lso*` by exerting su'lcient upward pressure on `the rail it will release from; the'sprin'g 56 to permit the rail, housing and closure head member to be' swung to an openV position as shown in Fig.y 8, where the machine may be used without the anvil asV a tacker. Inthis position the spring 56' engages in a notch 58v in the end of the clo'- sure head member `to-re'tain the baseV against looseness. v

In the normal use ofth'e machine the staple rail IG is yieldablyretained in a substantially horizontal position by means of a plunger 59'slid'- ably disposed in a" hole B0 in the base IU and havingV a head 6l' engaged vwith the' under-surface of the rail Vforwardly-of the spring' 56, a helical spring 62 lbeing Idisp/used betweenv the headfiii and the base t0;

Upon the uppe'rsi'de of the closure head member there is removably secured va facing member Y G3 which may be formed of sponge rubber or' shown in Fig. 6 the finger grip portions are disengaged from the anges 42, thus releasing the housing member, so that it may be raised.

The closure head member is disposed in the upper open side of the housing member and comprises a top wall 43, a front wall 44, and side walls 45--45, the rearward ends of the side walls being provided with apertured mounting portions 46 pivotally mounted upon the pin I9 between the outer surfaces of the bearing portions H-I'l of the rail and the bearing portions 355-35 of the housing member.

other suitable material and which isA moulded' to provide an attractive shape conforming substantially to the Vstreamlined design of the machine, the forward end of the facing where it is engaged by the palm of the hand when the machine is being operated being prefer-ably widened out. The attachment means for this facing consists of a series ,of integral anged' buttons 9'4 formedv upon the under surface which are interlockingly inserted in a series of holes 65' provided in the top wall 43 of the closure head.. Obviously this facing member may beA readily removed when desired for the purpose of removing it.

'At the forward ends of the staple rail the side walls have theirlower edges projected downwardly, as at 66, so that when the parts are depressed toward the base to grip the material prior to stapling, as shown by dot-and-dash lines in Fig. 1, these portions 66 will contact the material while'there will be -a slight clearance between the material and the housing-member. As a :consequence the rail is pressed upwardly with respect to the housing member during the stapling operation causing the pusher to have its finger grip portions 26 pressed tightly against the surfaces of the flanges 42 of the housing member, to retain the pusher member against the forward pressure normally exerted thereon by the spring 28, and thus remove forward pressure upon the staple being driven which pressure otherwise creates frictional resistance between the staple and the front wall of the housing member. As this friction is removed during the stapling operation the staple may be driven with less force than would otherwise be required. This also eliminates possibility of clogging of the staples through the dragging action of the staple being driven upon the adjacent staple of the strip. i

The operation is as follows:A

With the housing memberin its normal closed position the staple strip A is pressed forwardly by the pusher member 24, so that the foremost staple is inthe staple driving passage between the forward end of the rail and the front wall 34 of the housing member. The housing member is held in parallel operative relation with the rail through the interlocking engagement of the ringer grip flange portions 26a of the pusher with the flanges 42 of the housing member. In order to drive a staple the closure head member is depressed causing the housing member to swing downwardly into engagement with the work as shown in dot-and-dash lines in Fig. 1. 'Ihe housing member being thus restrained against further downward movement continued pressure on the closure head causes the spring 49 to be depressed, the forward end of this spring, which constitutes the driving means for the staple driving plunger member 38, -causing the latter to be moved downwardly in its guide channels 31. The staple disposed in the driving passage is thereupon driven downwardly into the work and clinched by the anvil II. Upon release of the closure head mem-ber after completion of the stapling operation the spring 49 returns the staple driving plunger and the closure member to their normal positions, this position being determined by abutment of the forward end of the spring 49 with the upper end of the slot 52.

During the staple driving operation the downwardly projecting portions 66 of the rail engage the material being stapled, as shown in dot-anddash lines in Fig. 1 and this, combined with the downward pressure exerted uponl the housing, causes the pusher member to be forced upwardly, tightly engaging the nger grip portions 26 with the under-surfaces of the flanges 42, thus restraining the forward pressure of the pusher member under the force of the spring 28. The pressure upon the staple being driven and frictional resistance between the staple and the wall 34 is therefore eliminated, and the staple may be driven with greater ease than would otherwise be the case.

In order to reload the machine with a staple strip the pusher is manually retracted, the rearward end of its upper surface engaging beneath the spring 32 causing it to be tripped to the inclined position as shown in Fig. 6, the spring 28 drawing the forward clip lugs 25 into locking engagement with the abutment walls 23. As the pusher is retracted the ilnger grip flange portions 26a move clear of the ilanges 42 thus releasing the housing so that it swings upwardly into open position under the force of the spring 53. The entire top, front and side surfaces of the rail are now entirely exposed, and the staple strip may be placed thereon, without; having to guide it or direct it into channels, as has been the case with other types of stapling machines.

With the staple strip in place the housing and closure head members are pressed downwardly to closed position, whereupon the staple strip retaining portion 4| engages the upwardly tilted pusher member and depresses it to the point where the forward clip lugs 25 are disengaged from the abutment walls 23, the spring 28 then drawing the released pusher forwardly, bringing the nger grip flange portions 26a into interlocking sliding engagement with the flange 42.

When it is desired to use the machine as a tacker, without the anvil, the base I0 is swung to the position shown in Fig. 8, in which position the spring 56 engages the recess 58 to retain the base in this open position, so that it may be conveniently used as a handle in manipulating the machine.

In Figs. 9 to 15 of the drawings I have illustrated a modification of the invention in which the pusher means for the staple strip is adapted to be automatically retained against forward movement upon opening movement being imparted to the housing and closure head members, and in which the housing and closure head members are retained in closed and open position respectively by double acting spring means. The rail I6a is of inverted U-shape cross-section, and in general is substantially like the rail I6 of the first embodiment, except that the arm is provided at its rearward end with inwardly oiset bearing portions I Ia--I Ia mounted upon the pivot pin I 9. These portions I 'Iel have a transverse spring mounting portion 61 at their forward ends bent inwardly from engages the flat lower horizontal edges of the side portions I'Il and extends rearwardly to a point substantially rearwardly of the pivot pin The rearward bearing portions 36e-36a of the sides 35-35 of the housing member are each provided with a flat surface 'l0 which in the tate the housing member in counterclockwise or closing direction, the

termined by outwardly the forward ends of staple rail I 6a the lower edges housing member. also provided with closing position being debent lugs 'II provided near the side portions of the which engage notches 'I2 in of the side portions 35 of the The bearing portions 36a are flat surfaces 13 extending at an obtuse angle to the flat surfaces 10, and which are adapted to be engaged by the spring in the member as shown in Fig. 14. In moving from closed to open position, and vice versa, the'peak between the inclined surfaces and 13 depresses the spring 6g, the spring snapping into flat retaining engagement with the respective ysurfaces 1U and 13 in the respective closed and open positions.

During movement from closed to open position therail is retained against swinging movement by means-of a retaining spring 14 mounted upon the base I0 and engaged' over the transverse spring mounting portion 615 the action of this spring being substantially like that of the spring 56 in the rst embodiment.

The base lil is encased with a covering of rubber and at a point rearwardly of the spring 14 and forwardly of the pair of pivot pins I9 there is provided a rubber bumper or spring Aportion 1B integrally moulded with the rubber covering 15, and which engages the under surface of the spring G9 near its forward end to normally support the rail in horizontal position while permitting it to be depressed during the stapling operation. The anvil portion Il of the base I0 is exposed while the remainder of the base is encased in the rubber cover 15.

kThe pusher member 11 consists of a rectangular cross-section sheet metal piece extending beneath the rail, upwardlyT at the sides of the rail, and inwardly at the top of the rail, the inwardly extending top portions being bent upwardly to provide spaced flanges 1S between which there is pivotally mounted upon a pin 19 a locking pawl 4 80, this pawl having a tooth 8| in its lower edge forwardly of the pivot pin 19 which in the open position of the housing member and closure head is adapted to drop into engagement with ratchet teeth 82 pressed in the upper surface of the staple rail, these ratchet teeth being rearwardly directed so that upon engagement of the pawl therewith the pusher is locked against forward movement under the pulling action of the spring 28; rIhe pawl Sii is so shaped that its major por#- tion is forwardly of the pivot 19 so that the forward end drops by gravity to engage the tooth 8l with the teeth of the rail. The portion of the' pawl rearwardly of the pivot 19 constitutes an actuating finger which in the closed position Aof the housing member is engaged by the staple strip retaining member 4la to swing the pawl'into releasing position, as shown in Fig. 9, with the tooth SI out of engagement with the ratchet teeth 82 so that the pusher is free to be pulled forwardly by the spring 28.

.The member lila is provided with an upwardly embossed channel 83 in which the flanges 18 and the pawl Bil are slidably engaged in the closed position .of the housing and closure head members. The spring 28 is connected to a lug 84 bent upwardly from the base portion of the pusher member. The lower forward corners of the pusher are notched, as at 85 to engage the stop shoulders 86 provided on the lugs 1l, to limit the forward movement of the pusher with its forward edge aligned with the forward edge of the rail. These shoulders 86 also centralize the forward end of the rail with respect to the housing member.

The operation is as follows:

Fig. 9 shows the normal operative position vin which the housing and closure members are closed and maintained insuch closed positionby pressure of the spring 69 against the flat surface 10, the pawl .SD of the pusher being held in 4re- Vleased position by engagement of the sta-ple strip retainingv member Ma therewith; so tha-tfi'lhf-z pusher is dra-wn forwardly by' the spring 28.

yWhen it is desired to reload the machine with fa staple strip thehousing and closure headmern-r bers are raised to the open position, as shown in Fig. 14, the spring 69 snappinginto engagement with the at surfaces 13 to retain'theni in this open position. As soon as the raising movement of the housing member is initiated the staple strip retaining member lll*i raiseswith respect to the pawl allowing it to drop by gravity to engage its tooth-8| with the ratchet teeth 82 thereby causing the pusher to beauto- "matically locked in any position where it happens .to be when the housingmember is raisedl T This is especially vimportant where staples remain upon the rail, and prevents any possibility of `these staples being shot forwardly therefrom; The pusher is thereupon retracted to expose-'the forward end of the rail, the pawl ratchetingo'ver the teeth 82 during the retracting movement'but Vlocking therewith against any forward movement under pull of the spring 2 8. The staple strip-is thereupon placed' upon Ithe exposed rail,- andthe l housing and closure head members'l movedgto closed position, in which position the'staple strip retaining member Ma engages the raised-"rearward end of .the pawl and releases itl 'from the ratchetteeth a2.` "1' When it is ldesired to use the machine asa tacker the rail, housing member and closurehead member are swung as a unit relatively to thebase member by exerting sufficient pressure upon the rail to overcome the retaining action of4v the spring 14. In the open position as shown in Figi 14 dot-and-dash lines in Fig. 9- the curved rearward end of the top wall 43 of the closure' head member engages the rubber spring bumper 16 compressing it, so that the base is retained in I open position by the swedging action Vbetween compressed rubber bumper and the rearward Iend of the closure head member; v

In Figs. 16 and 17 I have illustrated a fu'rtllfiery modified form of pusher member andy rail, which is substantially the same inl its action as Ythe v pusher member shown inFigs. 9 to15.' VThis modified pusher member 81 consists ofy a tubular: rectangular piece of sheet metal disposed abellt the rail 16h and provided at the forward endof its bottom .wall with an upwardlydirected tooth A88 opposed to ratchet teeth 89 provided' upon the lower edge of theside wallbf the rail. Thev vertical dimension of the pusher is suchv that sufficient clearance is provided to enable it to have a swinging movement of the rail; Aspring 90 is secured tothe under side of the upper wall of the pusher near its rearward edge by means ofa rivet` Bl, the forward end ovf'this 'spring adapted to exert pressure between the forward endvof the pusher and the top of the rail to swing the forward end of the pusher upwardly under the forward pull of the spring 28 which is connected to a lug 92 provided upon the lower wall of the pusher.

The staple retaining member #1lb of thehousi ing is adapted in the normal operative position to engage the upper surface ofthe 'pusher to compress the spring and retain the pusher in parallel relation to the rail, the tooth 88-being depressed out of engagement with thev ratchet teeth 89 so that the pusher is free to'be drawn forwardly upon the rail by the'spring 28. -1 Upon raising of the housing member to expose vthe rail;

asshown-inlig; 16, the spring .90 tilts the forward end` of the pusher upwardly engaging the tooth 88 With the ratchet teeth 89, thus restrainingthe forward movement of the pusher. Upon closing of the housing member the staple strip retaining member Mb engages the upper surface ofthe pusher and depresses the tooth 88 from engagement with the ratchet teeth 89. y

I have illustrated and described preferred and satisfactory embodiments of the invention, but it will be understood that changes may be made therein, within the spirit and scope thereof, as defined in the appended claims. Y

Having thus described my invention what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In4 a stapling machine, a staple carrying rail adapted to have a staple strip of U-shape staples mounted thereon, a housing member movably Amounted with respect to said staple rail for movement between closed and open positions including a front wall rigidly nxedto said housing member adapted to laterally enclose the front endof the rail in spaced relation to provide a staple driving passage, said rail being exposed at its front endin the open position ofthe housing member, a staple strip pusher slidable on said rail, spring means exerting a forward force on said pusher, pusher locking abutment means car ried by said rail, locking means carried by said pusher movable into engagement with said locking abutment means for securing said `pusher against forward movement in the open position of said housing member, and means on said housing adapted to move said locking means into inoperative position relatively to said locking abutment means in the closed position of said houslng. ,e 2. The invention as dened in claim 1, further characterizedfby interlocking means cooperating between said pusher and said housing member adapted to retain the housing member in closed position.

3. The invention as dened in claim l, further characterized by-interlocking means cooperating between said pusher Land said housing member adapted to retain the housingmember in closed position within a predetermined range of movement of saidV pusher.

4. The invention as defined in claim 1 further characterized by means cooperating between said pusher and housing member adapted toretain the housing member in closed position within a predetermined range of movement of said pusher, said means being inoperative rearwardly of said predetermined range of movement of said pusher. 5. The invention as dened in claim 1, further characterized by means cooperatingv between said housing member and pusher locking means adapted to render the latter inoperative in the closedposition of said housing member whereby said pusher is released and means cooperating between said pusher and housing mem` ber adapted to retain the housing member in closed position upon release of said pusher. 6. The invention as defined in claim 1, further characterized by means cooperating between said pusher andY housing member adapted to retain the housing member in closed position within a predetermined range of movement of said pusher, said means being inoperative to retain the housing member in a predetermined retracted position of said pusher rearwardly of said range of movement, said pusher locking` means being arranged to operate only at a point rearwardly of said predetermined range of movement. 7. Theinvention as dened in claim 1, fur# adapted to secure said ther characterized by means cooperating between said pusher and housing member adapted to retain the housing member in closed position within a predetermined range of movement of said pusher, said means being inoperative rearwardly of said predetermined range of movement, and spring means arranged to move said housing member to open position upon release by said pusher.

8. In a stapling machine, an anvil base, a staple carrying rail pivotally mounted at one end at said base, a housing member comprising a front wall portion and side wall portions extending rearwardly therefrom and pivotally mounted at its rearward end with respect to said rail, said housing member adapted to be moved between closed and open positions with respect to said rail, said front wall and side walls adapted to laterally enclose the front and sides of the rail in closed position, and to expose said front and sides in open position, a closure head member pivotally mounted at its rearward end coaxially with respect to said housing member, a staple driver carried by said housing member, and a driving connection between said closure head member and said staple driver.

9. In a stapling machine, an anvil base, a staple carrying rail, a transverse pivot mounting for said rail mounted upon one end at said base, a housing member comprising a front wall portion and side wall portions extending rearwardly therefrom and pivotally mounted at their rearward ends upon said pivot mounting, said housing member adapted to be moved between closed and open positions with respect to said rail, and a closure head member including top, front and side wall portions disposed within the upper open side of said housing, said side wall portions being pivotally mounted upon said pivot mounting.

. 10. In a stapling machine, a rail, a housing member movably mounted in overlying relation with respect to said rail, a staple strip pusher mounted upon said rail normally beneath said housing, spring means normally exerting forward pressure upon said pusher, cooperative locking means respectively on said pusher and rail pusher with respect to said rail, and means cooperating between said locking means and said housing member adapted t o render said locking means inoperative in the closed position .of the housing member.

11. In a stapling machine, a staple carrying rail, a housing member including a front wall and side walls extending rearwardly therefrom said front wall being forwardly spaced with respect to the forward end of said rail to provide a staple driving passage,a staple driver mounted upon said front wall for movement in said passage, Va closure head member mounted within said housing including a top wall, a front wall and side walls, a spring member carried by said housing member engaging said front wall of said closure member and said staple driver and constituting a driving connection between said closure member and said stable driver.

12. In a stapling machine, a staple carrying rail, a housing member having a staple driving passage, a staple driver slidably mounted in said passage, a closure head member movably mounted with respect to said housing, a spring carried by said housing and engaging said closure member to exert upward pressure thereon, said housing having means engaged' by said spring to limit the upward movement of said spring and closure member, said spring being also engaged with said staple driver whereby said closure member, spring, and staple driver move as a unit.

13. In a stapling machine, a staple carrying rail, a housing member, staple driving means carried by said housing member, a staple pusher on said rail, spring means normally exerting a forward force on said pusher, said pusher including a laterally disposed portion positioned vertically above and in contact with a portion of said rail, a laterally disposed portion positioned vertically beneath and in contact with a portion of said housing, and an interconnecting portion between said laterally disposed portions, whereby relative vertical compressive movement between said housing and said rail draws said pusher vertically downward upon said rail to frictionally retain said pusher against the forward force of said spring means during the stapling operation.

14. In a stapling machine, a staple carrying rail, a housing member, staple driving means carried by said housing member, a staple pusher on said rail, spring means normally exerting a forward force on said pusher, means on said staple rail adapted to engage the material being stapled, there being a clearance between said material and the staple housing whereby there is a relative compressive force exerted between said housing and said rail during the stapling operation, said pusher including a laterally disposed portion positioned vertically above and in contact with a portion of said rail, a laterally disposed portion positioned vertically beneath and in contact with a portion of said housing, and an interconnecting portion between said laterally disposed portions, whereby relative vertical compressive movement between 'said housing and said rail draws said pusher vertically downward upon vsaid rail to frictionally retain said pusher against the forward force of said spring means during the stapling operation.

15, In a stapling machine, an anvil base, a staple rail pivotally mounted upon said anvil base, a staple housing pivotally mounted with respect to said rail and adapted to be moved between closed and open positions with respect to said rail, spring means releasably securing said rail with respect to said base whereby said rail is retained in a predetermined position with respect to said Abase upon movement of said housing member to open position, said spring being also adapted to be released to permit unitary movement of said rail and housing member with respect to said base to a position non-opposedv to said base, and means adapted to yieldably retain said rail and housing member in said last mentioned position.

y MAX VOGEL. 

